U.S.

Marines treading water in formation while carrying a rifle during a water survival course in July 2005

Treading water or water treading is what a swimmer can do while in a vertical position to keep
their head above the surface of the water, while not providing sufficient directional thrust to
overcome inertia and propel the swimmer in any specific direction. As it expends less energy than
traditional strokes, it is often used by swimmers to rest between periods of exertion without having to
leave the water.
As such, the phrase "treading water" has become a euphemism for an effort expected to create
motion, but which actually results in merely staying in one, possibly barely sustainable, place.

Freestyle swimming implies the use of legs and arms for competitive swimming, except in the
case of the individual medley or medley relay events. The front crawl is most commonly chosen
by swimmers, as this provides the greatest speed. ... During the Olympic Games, front crawl is
swum almost exclusively during freestyle

Michael Phelps swimming breaststroke at the 2008 Missouri Grand Prix.

Breaststroke is a swimming style in which the swimmer is on their chest and the torso does not
rotate. It is the most popular recreational style due to the swimmer's head being out of the water a
large portion of the time, and that it can be swum comfortably at slow speeds. In most swimming
classes, beginners learn either the breaststroke or the front crawl first. However, at the competitive
level, swimming breaststroke at speed requires comparable endurance and strength to other
strokes. Some people refer to breaststroke as the "frog" stroke, as the arms and legs move
somewhat like a frog swimming in the water. The stroke itself is the slowest of any competitive
strokes and is thought to be the oldest of all swimming strokes.
Gordan Kožulj swimming backstroke at 2008 Euros

Backstroke is one of the four swimming styles used in competitive events regulated by FINA, and
the only one of these styles swum on the back. This swimming style has the advantage of easy
breathing, but the disadvantage of swimmers not being able to see where they are going. It is also
the only competition swimming style that has a different start. The swimming style is similar to
an upside down front crawl or freestyle. Both backstroke and front crawl are long-axis strokes. In
individual medley backstroke is the second style swum; in the medley relay it is the first style swum.

The butterfly (colloquially shortened to fly[1]) is a swimming stroke swum on the chest, with both
arms moving symmetrically, accompanied by the butterfly kick (also known as the "dolphin kick").
While other styles like the breaststroke, front crawl, or backstroke can be swum adequately by
beginners, the butterfly is a more difficult stroke that requires good technique as well as strong
muscles. It is the newest swimming style swum in competition, first swum in 1933 and originating out
of the breaststroke